"Brother Wei and Wei Zi went north to work. A coal mine boss said they needed hands down in the shafts—over ten grand a month," Shu Ming chuckled bitterly, sitting roadside. "First year back, they bragged about the cash. Then this March… heard they died in a mine accident."

"They were only seventeen. How could they work underground?"

"Dunno." Shu Ming had even picked up smoking. "Bro, want one?"

Lu Li didn’t smoke, but took it anyway, mimicking Shu Ming’s grip to light up. Shu Ming suddenly laughed. "Bro, you don’t smoke, do you? That won’t catch. No need to humor me."

Lu Li pulled the cigarette out, wry smile. "I just didn’t want distance between us."

"Words like that are enough." Shu Ming smacked his lips. "Truth? When I first saw you again… felt like a peasant meeting the emperor."

"That exaggerated?"

"Who in our low-rent district doesn’t know Brother Lu got into Chuanhai No.1 High School? *Chuanhai No.1!* That school full of officials’ and rich kids’ children! Everyone says you’ll make it big." He smacked his lips again. "Even as kids, I knew you were sharp, bold—dared anything. Bound to rise above us."

If Chu Xiaodong said this, Lu Li wouldn’t believe a syllable. But from Shu Ming? It felt hollow. As if the spirited boy he once knew had vanished, replaced by flattery and hollow smiles.

"Ming, remember where the others are now?"

"Others? Renxin Primary kids?"

"Mm."

"Most left. Only a few useless ones like me still scraping by here."

Lu Li sighed—silent, yet saying everything. Life for minors here was far worse than imagined. He was lucky. At least he had Zou Yameng. A sister who loved him.

"Mind telling me about your guardian?"

"…My guardian? Met him once. Then he vanished with the subsidy. Nearly starved on the street. A stranger rushed me to hospital. Pathetic—I clutched that grape juice bottle like treasure while nurses hovered, helpless." Shu Ming laughed softly at the "happy" memory.

"Remember his face, job, anything?"

"Just an old man. Spoke Chuanhai dialect."

Lu Li frowned. *His and Sister Yameng’s guardians were Chuanhai natives too… Same dialect. Connected? After all these years… can those subsidy-scammers even be found?*

After chatting, Shu Ming learned Lu Li was on a "mission" and volunteered to guide him to the remaining minors. He pushed his cart home, changed clothes, then led Lu Li deeper into the district. Trash choked the alleys; foul yellow puddles pooled where even sanitation crews wouldn’t tread. Gaunt figures crouched in shadows—haggard, hollow-eyed, ghostlike. This was the city’s underbelly. Civilization’s shadow. A den of suffering.

"Bro, stay sharp. They’re all using drugs. Some with mental breaks might shove powder at you just for walking by," Shu Ming warned.

"Mm."

Past several blocks stood a derelict residential building. Delinquent youths shared one cigarette on the steps—passing it after a few drags. Spotting Shu Ming, one yelled:

"Hey, Little Ming! Got smokes?"

The old Shu Ming would’ve scurried over bowing. Now he just raised an eyebrow. "Cut the noise! Brother Lu’s back—he’s got business!"

"Brother Lu? Which one?"

"Damn—it’s Lu Li!"

"Zou Yameng isn’t here, right?"

Lu Li almost smiled. He’d been Renxin Primary’s notorious troublemaker. But Sister Yameng? Her legend was forged in fists. From middle schoolers to first graders—none escaped her beatdowns. Bullies plastered "Violent Girl" stickers on her desk. Joke? Even as an adult, Lu Li knew: one hand from Yameng would end him. *If we’d never met… would she have become a triad boss?*

Zhou Haiming. Chen Shiwei. Ruan Qian. Familiar yet distant faces. A whirlwind in Lu Li’s chest. *If Chuanhai No.1 hadn’t taken me… would I be sunk here too? Drowning in vice. Oblivious.*

"Lu Li, what do you want?" Zhou Haiming straightened slightly—former classmates owed that much respect.

"Your guardians."

"We don’t have any."

Ruan Qian opened her mouth, then closed it seeing Zhou’s darkening glare. She wasn’t bad—just followed him into petty crimes. *Husband leads, wife follows.*

Guardians were taboo here. Zhou’s voice turned cold. "Why ask? What’s your angle?"

"Just trying to find them." *A lie.* This was Chu Xiaodong’s task. For the district’s sake. Lu Li, having lived two lifetimes, knew never to promise benefits. Not morality—just human nature.

The reason fit Lu Li’s bold rep. Zhou’s tension eased. "Ask. But I recall little."

"Names?"

Only Ruan Qian timidly raised a hand. "Brother Lu… I remember. Saw the guardianship paper as a kid. First name listed: An Gula."

*An Gula?* Lu Li stroked his chin. "Anything else?"

"No."

"How are you surviving? Income?" Lu Li caught himself—*Chu Jingyi would ask this*. How had the silly goose spent her holiday? Traveling? *Next time, remind her: no flights.*

All three turned away, pride choking answers. Shu Ming spoke flatly: "Sixty yuan subsidy a month."

"Sixty… how do you eat?"

"Drugs numb the hunger." His tone was chillingly calm.

Lu Li fell silent. Then pulled out his only five hundred yuan.

"Lu Li—what?!" Zhou’s eyes widened. "You’re… giving us money?"

Shu Ming grabbed his wrist. "Bro, you’re a student! They’re broken. This just feeds dealers."

Zhou slumped. "He’s right. What’s the point? Lu Li… Brother Lu. First time I’ve called you that."

Lu Li raised an eyebrow. "Take it. Stop the talk. If you buy ice with it? Consider it fed to dogs." Lean as he was, Lu Li’s presence pinned towering Zhou Haiming down.

"I can’t fill your bowls daily." He pressed the cash into Ruan Qian’s hands. "But if you’ve got one shred of fight left—go to rehab. Half a year."

Tear-prone Ruan’s eyes reddened. "Thank you, Brother Lu… We were wrong before…"

They’d clashed since elementary school. Not friends. But to Lu Li—they were roots. Orphans. Family.

"Save the sentiment," Lu Li shook his head, turning to leave with Shu Ming.

Zhou shouted after him: "Brother Lu! Anything you need—I, Zhou Haiming, will risk this rotten life to help!"

Lu Li paused. Smiled silently. *How alike we orphans are.* Starved for love, we armor ourselves in coldness. Yet one flicker of kindness? We’d bleed ourselves dry to repay it. Tragic. Most never escape this cycle.

Walking back, the awkward gap between him and Shu Ming had vanished.

"Brother Lu… you haven’t changed."

"Good or bad?"

"Dunno. You feel… different. Like someone from a fairy tale."

"Naive?"

"No. I lack words. Remember that story? *Kuafu chasing the sun*. You’re like him. I admire you."

*Idealist.* The word surfaced. Lu Li saw himself as a realist. Pragmatist. Ideals? Sky-high. Fireworks-bright. Foam-fleeting. *Insult… or praise?*

At the crossroads, Shu Ming halted. "I won’t walk further. Work waits."

"Thanks."

But Shu Ming stood rooted like a nail.

"Ming? Need help?" Lu Li saw his clenched fists.

"Brother Lu… promise me one thing?" A deep breath. "Get into university. Make us low-rent district orphans proud." His eyes burned red. "I refuse to be looked down on forever! Let the world know—we *can* become elites! The sights we’ll never see… Brother Lu… see them for us. Okay?"